New Kensington

Mathematics professor to deliver keynote address at Boston conference

Javier Gomez-Calderon, professor of mathematics at Penn State New Kensington, will deliver the keynote address Nov. 11 at the opening session of the 36th annual conference of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges in Boston.

Gomez-Calderon's talk, "The Treasure of Polynomials," is a historical approach to polynomials, which are mathematical expressions of finite length constructed from variables and constants. Polynomials use only the operations of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and non-negative, whole-number exponents. There are no square roots of variables, no fractional powers, and no variables in the denominator of any fractions. From the early discovery of the quadratic formula, "ax2 + bx + c", polynomials have been a fundamental concept in the development of mathematics.

The recipient of numerous teaching awards, Gomez-Calderon joined the New Kensington mathematics department in 1986, after seven years as graduate associate and teaching assistant at the University of Arizona, where he earned his master's and doctorate degrees in mathematics.

In 2007, he was given the Milton S. Eisenhower Award for Distinguished Teaching. The Eisenhower Award recognizes excellence in teaching and student support among tenured faculty members. Milton S. Eisenhower, brother of former U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, served as president of Penn State from 1950 to 1956.

"I am lucky because I have been living my dream of teaching mathematics for more than two-thirds of my life," said Gomez-Calderon, a Penn State faculty member for 24 years. "I am not an outstanding teacher nor am I an important mathematician. I simply enjoy doing my job"

He pursued his profession because of the demands it places on teaching and learning; both concerning students and colleagues. He encourages student's questions and suggestions and serves as mentor for and mentee of peers and friends.

"In my opinion, teaching and learning always go together," said Gomez-Calderon, whose wife, Maria Franco-De Gomez, is an instructor in Spanish at the campus. "How can I teach if I am not learning?"

In addition to the Eisenhower award, Gomez-Calderon is a two-time recipient of the campus' Excellence in Teaching Award, 1986 and 1997. The award recognizes faculty performance in the classroom, as well as in other activities such as advising, supervision of learning outside the classroom, and course development. In 2002, he was honored with the Commonwealth College Outstanding Research Award and in 1996 with the Teresa Cohen Mathematics Service Award. He has authored or co-authored 30 articles, four books, and four in-house booklets.

Excellence in teaching runs in the Gomez family. Franco-De Gomez also has won the Excellence in Teaching award twice — 1998 as a part-time instructor and 2004 as a full-time instructor.

"We are certainly privileged to have such excellent faculty members at Penn State New Kensington," said Arlene Hall, director of academic affairs. "Javier is one of our very best who exemplifies Penn State excellence."

Gomez-Calderon's service is not limited to academia. The Plum Borough, Pa. resident also is active in the community. He was the head coach of the girls soccer team at Plum High School for seven years, 1996-2006, guiding the Mustangs into the playoffs three times. In 2001, he was named Coach of the Year by the Valley News Dispatch.

A back injury sidelined "Coach G", as he is known on the field, and he resigned the position. After rehabilitation, he was lured out of retirement in 2006 by Mike Spangnolo to serve as assistant coach for the girls' team at Burrell High School. He has been head coach for the past three years.

"I have great memories of my tenure at Plum and the team did well after I left," said Coach G. "I left Plum assuming that I was done with soccer, but Mike invited me to join him and it is a great opportunity to again be part of a great team."
 

 

Last Updated November 2, 2010

Contact